PHONE SCAM Attorney General Warns Consumers About Telephone Scam
Reported by: Jeff Morris
Web Producer: Jeff Morris
Reported: Aug. 29, 2012 5:59 PM EDT
Eyewitness News Photo
Charleston
, Kanawha County
, West Virginia
West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw is warning consumers of a telephone scam that preys on consumers who misdial common toll-free numbers.
The Consumer Protection Division received reports that consumers attempted to call Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort in Chester, WV, but instead reached a sales agent offering special deals on travel packages, gift cards, and other products, for a small fee payable by credit card, according to a news release from the Attorney General’s Office.
Consumers repeatedly asked whether the offers were affiliated with Mountaineer, but the callers involved in the scam avoided the subject and never denied affiliation. Learning about the calls, Mountaineer realized that consumers had misdialed the correct number by only one digit.
McGraw warns consumers to be wary of anyone who asks for credit card information over the telephone. It is always prudent to double check the identity of those on the telephone before giving out personal information, even in situations where the consumer has placed the call.
If you believe you may have been the victim of this scam, contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division immediately. To report a scam or file a complaint, West Virginians can reach the Attorney General’s Office online at www.wvago.gov or by calling the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-368-8808.
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Jeff Morris
